THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

MALE:
1. Testes – paired oval organs covered by the scrotum; contains semineferous tubules (30-60 cm contained in about 300
lobules); produces male sex hormones, testosterone and sperm cells

2. Ducts – the accessory organ forming the male duct system that transports sperm from the body
a. Epididymis - comma shaped; highly coiled tube about 6 meters long that caps the superior part of the testis then runs
down its posterolateral side
i. Provide temporary storage site for immature sperm that enters from the testis
ii. Allows maturation of the sperm in 14 days: achieve motility and ability to fertilize an ovum
b. Ductus deferens – runs upward from the epididymis through the inguinal canal into the pelvic cavity and arches over
the superior aspect of the bladder
i. Propels live sperm from the epididymis and distal part of the ductus deferens into the urethra
ii. For vasectomy – almost 100% effective
c. Ejaculatory duct – formed by the ductus deferens and the duct from the seminal vesicles
i. Allows passage of sperm cells towards the urethra
d. Urethra – extends from the base of the urinary bladder to the tip of the penis: the terminal part of the male
reproductive system
i. Passageway for sperm and urine, but not both at the same time
ii. 20 cms long, 3 parts:
1. prostatic urethra – 4-5 cm
2. membranous urethra – 1 cm
3. spongy urethra – 10-15 cm

3. Accessory glands
a. Seminal vesicles - convoluted pouch-like structure located at the base of the bladder which produces 60% of the
fluid volume of the semen; it secretes alkaline viscous fluid containing fructose (for ATP production), prostaglandins,
clotting proteins. It is alkaline to neutralize acidic environment

b. Prostate gland – a single gland about the size and shape of a chestnut or doughnut shaped with the size of a golf
ball; its secretion plays a role in activating the sperm. Secretes milky, slightly acidic secretion that helps semen
coagulate after ejaculation and subsequently breakdown the clot

c. Bulbourethral gland (Cowper’s gland)– tiny pea-sized gland inferior to the prostate gland. Secretes alkalinr fluid which
neutralizes acidic environment of the urethra. Secretes also mucus to lubricate lining of the urethra and tip of the
penis during sexual intercourse

4. External Genitalia
a. Scrotum – divided sac of skin hanging outside the abdominal cavity covering the testis; protects the testis
i. Dartos muscle – smooth muscle; keeps the testicle from losing heat
ii. Cremaster muscle – skeletal muscle; oulls the testes towards the body
iii. Temperature is 2-3 C lower than body temperature: optimum temperature to allow spermatogenesis
b. Penis – consists of a shaft which ends in an enlarged tip: GLANS PENIS covered by the prepuce of the skin ;
designed to deliver the sperm into the female reproductive
i. Made up of an erectile tissue: 2 corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum

FEMALE:
1. Ovaries – paired almond-like organs containing ovarian follicles which contain immature egg or oocyte surrounded by follicle
cells

2. Duct system
a. uterine or fallopian tube – initial part of the duct system. It receives the ovulated oocyte and provide a site where
fertilization occurs. 3 parts”
i. Infundibulum – associated with the fimbria; funnel –shaped
 ii. Ampulla – longest and widest diameter; area where fertilization often takes place
iii. Isthmus – shortest and narrowest; attaches medially to the uterus
b. Uterus – located in the pelvis between the urinary bladder and rectum
i. Hollow organ that functions to receive, retain and nourish a fertilized egg
ii. 3 layers:
1. perimetrium – outer most layer; continuation of the peritoneum
2. myometrium – muscular layer made up of smooth muscles and elastic CT
3. endometrium – inner lining of the uterus where implantation takes place
c. Vagina – thin walled tube; 8 to 10 cm long.
i. Provides passageway for the delivery of an infant
ii. Copulatory organ
iii. Passageway of menstrum

3. External genitalia
a. Mons pubis – fatty rounded area overlying the pubic symphysis
b. Labia majora and labia minora – the majora closes the minora which in turn closes the vestibule containing the
external opening of the urethra
c. Clitoris – anterior to the vestibule; corresponds to the male penis; for sexual excitation in the female
d. Greater vestibular glands – flank the vagina; their secretion lubricates the distal end of the vagina during intercourse;
homologous to the Prostate gland

SPERMATOGENESIS
Sperm production occurs in the seminiferous tubules in the testis. The process is begun by the primitive stem cells called
SPERMATOGONIA found in the outer edge of the tubule. It undergoes rapid mitotic divisions to build up the stem cell lines. During
puberty, follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) is secreted in increasing amounts by the anterior pituitary gland, and from this time on,
division of the spermatogonia produces a stem cell and PRIMARY SPERMATOCYTE. MEIOTIC DIVISION of the primary spermatocyte
produces 2 secondary spermatocyte which further undergo another meiotic division to produce the EARLY SPERMATIDS. Spermatids
are non-motile and must still undergo SPERMIOGENESIS to become VIABLE SPERMS. Viable sperm consists of ACROSOME,
HEAD-containing nucleus and tail. The sperm is haploid. As the process develops, the cells move towards the center of the lumen of
the tubule. It takes 64 to 72 days for its entire development.

OOGENESIS
In the process of female egg formation, OOGONIA, the female stem cell multiply rapidly to increase their number. Their
daughter cells, the PRIMARY OOCYTES, push into the ovary connective tissue where they become surrounded by a single layer of
cells to form the primary follicles. This process occurs DURING FETAL DEVELOPMENT.
During puberty, FSH stimulates few primary follicle to grow and mature each month.
During puberty, the primary oocyte arrested at PROPHASE I, finishes first maturation division of meiosis under the influence
of FSH and zona pellucida develops. From this division, secondary oocyte and 1 st POLAR BODY develops. Secondary oocyte
undergoes a second division to produce a mature ovum and another polar body. The ovum is now haploid in chromosomal number.

FERTILIZATION:
1. Ovum is conveyed to the uterine tube by currents created in the peritoneal fluid by the fimbriae and cilia of the tubular mucosa
2. Flagella of spermatozoa propels them 1 – 4 mm per minute, their ascent in the female tract believed to be assisted by
aspirations following tubular and uterine contractions.
3. Only one of 200 – 300 million deposited sperms penetrates the ovum thru the assistance of the enzymes and hyaluronidase
4. Fertilization normally occurs when nucleus of sperm fuses with the nucleus of the egg to form a ZYGOTE. His occurs in the
distal end of the uterine tube.

PHASES OF MENSTRUATION:
A. MENSES (Days 1-5): The thick endometrial lining of the uterus is sloughing off or becoming detached from the uterine wall. This
accompanied by bleeding for 3 to 5 days.

B. PROLIFERATIVE STAGE (Days 6-14): stimulated by rising estrogen levels produced by the growing follicles of the ovaries, the
endometrium is repaired, glands are formed in it, and the endometrial supply is increased. The endometrium once again becomes
velvety and thick. Ovulation occurs in the ovary at the end of this stage, in response to the sudden surge of LH in blood.
C. SECRETORY STAGE (Days 15-28): Rising levels of progesterone production by the corpus luteum of the ovary act on estrogen-
primed endpmetrium and increase its blood supply even more. Progesterone also causes the endometrial glands to increase in size
and to begin secreting nutrients into the uterine cavity. These nutrients will sustain a developing embryo (if one is present) until it has
implanted. If fertilization occurs, the embryo produces a hormone similar to LH, causing the corpus luteum to produce more of its
hormone. If no fertilization occurs, the corpus luteum begins to degenerate towards at the end of this period as LH levels decline.
Lack of ovarian hormones in the blood causes the blood vessels supplying the endometrium to go into SPASM and KINK.
When deprived of oxygen and nutrients, the endometrial cells begin to die, which sets the stage of for menses to begin again on day
28.

- length of menstrual cycle is variable:

ESTROGEN:
- causes the secondary sex characteristics:
 enlargement of accessory organs of the female reproductive system (uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, external genitals)
 development of breast
 Appearance of axillary and pubic hair
 Increased deposits of fat beneath the skin in general, and particularly in the hips and breasts
 Widening and lightening of the pelvis
 Onset of menses

TESTOSTERONE:
 deepening of voice due to the enlargement of the larynx
 increased hair growth all over the body, and particularly in the axillary and pubic regions and the face (beard)
 Enlargement of skeletal muscles to produce the heavier muscle mass typical of the male physique
 Increased heaviness of the skeleton due to thickening of bones